Friday, November 12, 2010

VeganMoFo IV: Like a "Meat" Cake Burnin' in My Heart

Buuuurp. Okay, seriously y'all, I have never been this excited about a MoFo post before. The only thing that comes close is when I did those hot dog roll ups because it was so funny!

Backstory: In late summer somebody on the PPK boards posted something about omni meatloaf cupcakes. Most people were disgusted. I was very intrigued. So I did some googling and ran across this OMNI meat cake (don't click if you have a problem with seeing meat). I liked the usage of cranberrrry, so I took that idea. After looking up meat cakes for way too long, I found a cute take on it that involved using mixed vegetables as sprinkles. Originally this was planned for next week, but this Vegansaurus post sparked a fire in me.

"the itis" in cake form

What you need for a 4 layer Thanksgiving "meat" cake:Seitan-I used the seitan en croute recipe from 500 Vegan Recipes. Replace the parsley, paprika, and garlic powder with thyme, poultry seasoning, and onion powder. Drop the puff pastry and liquid smoke. I halved the dough and baked each half in a cake pan (with a smaller one on top to flatten) for 35 minutes. I probably didn't need to keep it in that long. EDIT: For gluten and/or soy free...use tofu, nut, or bean loaf. Just bake the recipe in a cake pan and make sure it firms up enough to flip it out of the pan.

Stuffin'-Divide it into two cake pans and turn out to cool before building the cake. I used my own recipe, which calls for sweet cornbread (adapted from Vcon). If you don't like it sweet then you'd want to half the sugar.

Instant Potatoes-Seriously get more than you think you'll need. I ran out, so the "frosting" isn't nearly as smooth as I'd like.

1 Sweet Potato-For one of the frosting layers. I mixed it with a little bit of instant potato for an orange layer. No sticky sweet marshmallow infected sweetie pots for me! Ha ha.

Mixed Vegetables-For sprinkles, just mix into the instant potatoes for 2 of the frosting layers.

Cranberry Sauce-I used the one in Vcon because it calls for agar, which was perfect for what I had in mind. I changed the recipe, using a mix of orange and apple juice. I also used brown sugar and added orange zest.

the potatoes with mixed vegetable "sprinkles"

the cake before it's iced

You can basically build it any way you want. I went with seitan on bottom because it had a sturdier (ahem...slightly browned) bottom.

After it was assembled, I popped it in the freezer while I got the last of my potatoes ready. It's much easier to frost this with warm potatoes. Also, use water on your knife/spatula for easier smoothing. For the top layer, I built a trench in the stuffing and poured warm cranberry sauce. Then I put potatoes in a piping bag to beautify it a bit. That last sentence makes me feel crazy.

This is the final result:

I don't know if this looks delicious, but it really is!

I would cut this while it's cold and heat up just before serving. It's really good. It tastes just like Thanksgiving. You could even pour gravy over it or more cranberry sauce. I was fine with it the way it was.

Well, everybody, I'm spent. I think there will probably be vlogs for the next few days while we make our way through this cake (and tons of salad to combat the starches). I'm in serious need of some nog and a nap.

Okay, this puts the "epic" in "epic." You are certifiably INSANE! And that is why I love you: from the awesome Martha & the Vandellas reference to...to...The Thing Itself, if there are nominations for "Greatest MoFo Entry 4.0," this one gets my vote! (And Kittee - Wikipedia definitely needs to be informed of this, for the sake of future generations!)

That is CRAZY AMAZING. I am simultaneously attracted and repelled, but more attracted. I like savory cake/cupcake ideas very much. Like a food trompe l'oeil! I admire your very hard work putting this together!

holy crap! that's so creative! At first, I thought it was just a layered dessert cake, and then I saw the layer of mashed potatoes and realized that this was something special. :) I'm sure this would require less clean-up too, after eating! Fewer serving plates and spoons.

Words cannot describe what I think of this genious idea! Who wouldn't want a slice of this. It's the main meal and side dishes all in one huge slice. You just need a salad to go on the side. How long did it take you to put this together?

I never, ever, ever say this but OMG!!! You're either a genius or crazy (in a good way, of course). This just cracks me up. Wow. It even looks like it would be fun and tasty to eat. Top this, I dare you!

OH MY GOD MO. OMGM! This is the most astounding feat of culinary wizardry! First of all, it is so incredibly beautiful, I just can't believe it. Second of all, it sounds and looks so delicious. I want to eat it all RIGHT NOW. I am most totally 100% going to make this someday. It is so fun and special and weird and awesome. Like you! You have been elevated to the next level.

Wow! That is amazing! All the flavors of Thanksgiving in on place! I will have to try this when I have lots of energy and company.I'm doing Vegan MoFo on my blog too, and I'm trying to visit as many fellow MoFoer's as possible. I'm so glad I discovered your blog, it's wonderful!

That is such a freakin' trick on the eyes. I wanted it then I wasn't sure and then. . . I definitely wanted it. I have no idea how to feal about a seitan cake, but this is definitely the gateway to the biggest case of the itis I have ever had. Rock on, Mo.

This is incredible! My boyfriend's birthday is on Thanksgiving this year, and we joked about making him a Tofurky cake. But this is so much more epic! Awesome job, and I can only imagine how ridiculously Thanksgiving that must have tasted.

CHOW is asking people to submit their pictures of their own 'meat cakes', and I think you should totally send in yours! (http://www.chow.com/food-news/67026/the-turkey-cake-inspires-awes-and-nauseates-the-masses/?tag=wp_content;post-67026#more-67026) 'Cause you know, it's vegan. And awesome. :) -Eve